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The traditional trail of inventory listings, leaked casings and internal components have teased us enough: it's finally time to get down to the nitty gritty specs, and see how Apple's latest (and daintiest) iPad shapes up to the competition. We've collected a trio of like-sized slabs to pit the device against, just for the fun of it. Read on to see how it stacks up against its peers.

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appleApple iPad MiniAppleIpadMinibreaking newsBreakingNewsiDeviceiOSiOS 6Ios6iPadiPad MiniIpadMiniiPhoneiPod TouchIpodTouchJonathan IveJonathanIveJony IveJonyIvePhil SchillerPhilSchillerSpecialSpecial Eventspecial event 2012SpecialEventSpecialEvent2012Tue, 23 Oct 2012 14:12:00 -040021|20358197http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/the-daily-grind-how-frugal-are-you-in-f2p-games/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/the-daily-grind-how-frugal-are-you-in-f2p-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/the-daily-grind-how-frugal-are-you-in-f2p-games/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#comments
Those of you who shun free-to-play titles or are determined to never spend a single red cent in them are dismissed from today's discussion. But for those of you who do spend money in F2P MMOs -- and by all accounts, that's quite a few of you out there -- I'm curious just how frugal you are with the money you spend.

I know that SOE players often hold back from registering Station Cash cards until the studio does a double- or triple-point day, and Turbine's frequently put its in-game stock on sale for both Lord of the Rings Online and Dungeons and Dragons Online. Around the holidays or during special anniversaries, players can also snag some good deals.

So do you wait for certain items and unlocks to go on sale, or are you wealthy and/or impatient enough to simply go for it when you want them? Do you look for specials with an eagle eye? Jump on top of bonus in-game currency days? Clip coupons? Just how far do you stretch your gaming dollar?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

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clip-couponscouponcouponsddodealdealsdiscussiondungeons-and-dragons-onlinef2pfree-to-playfrugalfrugaliciousfrugalitylord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionpromotionssalesalessoesony-online-entertainmentspecialspecialsstation-cashtdgthe-daily-grindturbineturbine-entertainmentWed, 28 Dec 2011 08:00:00 -0500319|20136090http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/19/engadget-distros-first-special-edition-traces-the-origins-of-th/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget&ncid=rss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/19/engadget-distros-first-special-edition-traces-the-origins-of-th/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/19/engadget-distros-first-special-edition-traces-the-origins-of-th/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments
We promised you some unexpected surprises, and it's time that we delivered. Distro's very first special edition is ready for download (and yes, it's available on PDF too). This one's all about a device that's never failed to get folks talking. Yup! It's the iPhone special issue. Love it or hate it, Apple's flagship phone has had an undeniable impact on the mobile space. In this issue, we'll dive deep into Cupertino's latest with our iPhone 4S review and shed some light on the phones that came before with The Evolution of the iPhone. So hop on that iPad, or hit the link below, and download Distro's very special new issue.

The Engadget Mobile Podcast started in December 2008 with a couple guys and a dream; a desire to bring you the week's best (and worst) mobile haps to keep you up to speed. 976 days and 100 podcasts later, that dream is still being made into reality week after week -- and today's special edition is yet another way to prove that. And there's no better way to show our gratitude for all of your support than to keep doing what we know best: deliver the latest and greatest in mobile. The difference this time is that hosts Myriam Joire and Brad Molen are literally doubling their vocal cords by inviting on Noah Kravitz (of TechnoBuffalo and PhoneDog fame) and our very own Richard Lai. Sounds like a good time, right? Be there at 5PM ET (that's 2PM PT / 9PM GMT) to join in on the celebration!

Fun fact: the very first Engadget Mobile Podcast took place on December 17, 2008. Roughly 23,424 hours later (give or take a few), we're going to be celebrating the one-hundredth edition; dang, we're getting old. And what better way to celebrate than to bring on some special guests. Join hosts Myriam and Brad as they welcome Noah Kravitz from TechnoBuffalo and Engadget's own Richard Lai to the podcast. You know what that means: more rants, even more beefs, and especially more all-around mobile goodness at its best. We're planning on beginning the party Friday night at 5PM ET (2PM PT / 9PM GMT), so make sure you've got some space cleared on your calendar!

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anniversaryengadget mobile podcastEngadgetMobilePodcastguestsmobcastmobilemobilepostmininoah kravitzNoahKravitzpodcastpodcast 100Podcast100specialspecial editionspecial guestSpecialEditionSpecialGuestMon, 15 Aug 2011 21:00:00 -040021|20017160http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/19/microsoft-offers-free-xbox-360-with-back-to-school-pc-professor/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget&ncid=rss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/19/microsoft-offers-free-xbox-360-with-back-to-school-pc-professor/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/19/microsoft-offers-free-xbox-360-with-back-to-school-pc-professor/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#commentsWith only the best interests of its younger customers at heart, Microsoft has a new back-to-school promotion: starting May 22, college students buying a new Windows 7 PC can also get a free Xbox 360 4GB console. That's right, free -- as long as your new computer cost at least $699 and came from Redmond or one of its partners, including HP and Dell. Online ordering will require a .edu email address, which even attendees of the School of Life know how to procure; if you'd rather shop at Best Buy or a Microsoft Store, you'll need an actual student ID. This isn't about convincing students they need more than a tablet computer, of course. It's about giving them the opportunity to be popular. "Get ready to be the coolest kid on your dorm floor with a killer new Windows 7 PC and an Xbox 360 -- all you really need for college," the company says. Yes, being the coolest kid on your dorm floor: pretty much the definition of Higher Education.

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academicsBest BuyBestBuycollegeconsoleconsolesdealDelleducationfreegamingHPmicrosoftMicrosoft StoreMicrosoft storesMicrosoftStoreMicrosoftStoresPCprofessorretailschoolspecialstudentsstudywindows 7Windows7xboxxbox 360Xbox360Thu, 19 May 2011 18:01:00 -040021|19945241http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/10/lian-li-pc-u6-cowry-case-an-aluminum-seashell-to-keep-your-pc-l/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget&ncid=rss_semi
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It takes quite a bit to get us excited about desktop case designs these days, but Lian Li's voluptuous new PC-U6 Cowry would seem to qualify pretty easily. It's fashioned after a seashell, giving it an appearance that's remarkably fresh and novel for such a well developed market, but it's also functionally useful -- the deepest part of the case is exactly where graphics cards would be expected to reside, permitting it to accommodate a video card as long as 310mm. There are also two 120mm side-mounted fans, a red LED kit, room for a full-sized power supply, and tool-free mounts for three 3.5-inch and two 2.5-inch storage drives plus an external 5.25-inch ODD. All that goodness is encased in an aluminum body and coming at you later this month for $349. How could you possibly resist? Video of the Cowry follows after the break.

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aluminumannouncedartcasechassiscowrydesigndesktop caseDesktopCaseenclosurelaunchlian lilian li pc-u6LianLiLianLiPc-u6limited editionLimitedEditionmicroatxmini-itxofficialpcpc casepc-u6PcCasereleaseroundseashellshellspecialspecial editionSpecialEditiontowervideoTue, 10 May 2011 10:21:00 -040021|19936396http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/19/life-after-apb-global-agenda-woos-displaced-players-with-specia/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
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It's been a sad week for APB fans, that's for sure, but Hi-Rez Studios wants to help take some of the sting out of APB's cancellation with a special offer. Citing MMO shooter brotherhood, executive producer Todd Harris offered sympathy by saying, "We honor their effort and innovation, and greatly mourn the game's closing."

While APB's future fate -- and any possible resurrection -- looks bleak, Hi-Rez has a word of advice for that game's players: come over and give Global Agenda a try. To facilitate this, the studio is providing a decent discount on the purchase of Global Agenda through September 24th. GA will cost just $20.99 during this time period, and that fee covers both the cost of the MMO and unlimited play. Not too shabby, eh? Prospective purchasers will need to buy through Global Agenda's online store and use the code "LongLiveShooterMMOs" to take advantage of this special.

Whether you see Hi-Rez as being merely opportunistic or splendidly gracious (or, hey, both), this deal may be too good for MMO shooter fans to resist. You can read the full letter and offer over at Global Agenda's site.

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all-points-bulletinapbfly-my-prettiesfpsgaglobal-agendahi-rezmmofpsrealtime-worldsshooter-mmospecialspecial-offerSun, 19 Sep 2010 11:00:00 -0400319|19639384http://wow.joystiq.com/2009/10/28/the-guild-halloween-special/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=WoW&ncid=rss_semi
http://wow.joystiq.com/2009/10/28/the-guild-halloween-special/http://wow.joystiq.com/2009/10/28/the-guild-halloween-special/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=WoW#comments
The Guild is on holiday vacation this week -- instead of the latest episode in the series (which is episode 9, and will come out next week, we're told), they've posted a Halloween special video, which you can watch over on MSN or right past the break below. It's more than just a chance to don their actual guildie costumes, too -- they go on a "socially acceptable real-world looting" run, with each guildie terrorizing one unlucky couple in their own special way. What's scarier than a Tuesday with all the servers down for maintenance? Vork showing up at your door.

And while we're on the subject of The Guild, our good friends at Massively got a chance to speak with a few of the cast members at GameX earlier this week -- Jeff Lewis, Robin Thorsen, and Sandeep Parikh got cornered by Massively's cameras, and talked with them about Wil Wheaton, MMOs, and Sandeep's famous backflip. Have a happy Halloween, Guild fans, and we'll be back next week with the third-to-last episode of season 3.

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codexfelicia-dayhalloweenhalloween-2009hallows-endhallows-end-2009jeff-lewismmosrobin-thorsensandeep-parikhspecialthe-guildthe-guild-season-3tuesdayvorkwil-wheatonzabooWed, 28 Oct 2009 16:00:00 -040099|19210805http://wow.joystiq.com/2009/09/29/jante-law-and-player-psychology/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=WoW&ncid=rss_semi
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Larisa over at the Pink Pigtail Inn has been posting some really interesting things about psychology and the World of Warcraft lately. The other week she wrapped up a little survey (along with the folks at Dreambound) about personalities of players and how they correspond to the roles they play in game, and this week she's got a little analysis up about something called the Jante Law, developed by a Norwegian author for a novel back in the 1930s. You can read the whole idea on her page or over on Wikipedia, but basically it all boils down to one "rule" for overseeing each individual member of a community: "Don't think that you are more special than us."

She applies the law to the WoW community at large, and says that without knowing it, comment trolls and those who attack people who differentiate themselves on the forums (including the folks who caused Ghostcrawler to rethink his role there) are following this law, and attacking those who stick their neck out as different. Personally, I don't know that the "haters" in the community give it that much thought -- most of the time when they do attack others, they do it to try and build themselves up rather than enforce any community standard ("You've won 1,000 AV matches? Big deal, I win in there all the time.").

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communitycommunity-standardsdifferentiationenforceforumsjante-lawpersonalitiespink-pigtail-innplayer-psychologyplayersspecialtrollswikipediaTue, 29 Sep 2009 11:00:00 -040099|19177054http://wow.joystiq.com/2009/04/01/bornakk-defends-removing-the-drakes/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=WoW&ncid=rss_semi
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As you have probably heard, Blizzard will be removing the Plagued and Black Proto-drake mounts from the game as of 3.1. Currently they're available from the meta-raiding achievements, but since Blizzard wants to keep them rare, they've put a limit on the time you have to finish off those achievements before Ulduar gear and higher levels make them too easy. Lots of players are less than happy about this -- we're not in the right place right now to do these achievements, but we still really want a chance at these drakes. But Bornakk defends the decision over on the forums: he says that they didn't want the achievements to be "watered down as patch after patch goes by."

One player suggests tweaking them in a little different way: the new Herald of the Titans achievement actually requires you to have a certain iLevel on your gear, so that you can't get it if you're geared out so well it makes the fight trivial. Players want to know why Blizzard can't do that with the Glory of the Raider achievements, so that no matter what new gear we get, the difficulty stays the same.

But Bornakk confirms that it's not a matter of difficulty, it's a question of rarity. If players were always able to get the mounts, there would always be more and more of the mounts in the game. They want to cut off the supply, period. The good news is that there will eventually be more rare mounts to go after (and I can't wait until I see that Gnome head flying around). But the proto-drakes' time is almost up.

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achievemntsblizzardbornakkgameglory-of-the-raidermimironmimirons-headmountspatch-3.patch-3.1proto-drakesspecialWed, 01 Apr 2009 21:00:00 -040099|1505171http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/12/16/the-guild-christmas-special/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=WoW&ncid=rss_semi
http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/12/16/the-guild-christmas-special/http://wow.joystiq.com/2008/12/16/the-guild-christmas-special/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=WoW#comments
Yes, The Guild is back with another Christmas special this year, and this time it's a retelling of "The Night Before Christmas" with a decidedly MMO spin. St. Nick is a level 90 rare spawn, apparently, and the guidies have to be careful -- not only does he have a few mean adds (including a reindeer with a Shiny Nose buff), but he's got more than one phase to get through, too.

Very cute. The video should be on Xbox Live and the Zune marketplace as usual, and we should be very close to having the rest of the guild's episodes sitting right on The Guild's site as well, so stay tuned for that. Maybe next year we'll be able to see some of St. Nick's dropped loot tables.

Raaaa! These two fearsome warriors ripple and surge with energy when they /special. We're hoping the Marauder eventually gets some sort of tentacle-based hilarity here.

The Magus / Zealot Special

The arcane workers of the Chaos faction have a lot of power rippling through their frames. As a result, they've got enough to spare to just 'hang out'. Not only would that be fun at parties, but we think it'd be great for relaxing after a hard day of slaughter and soul-draining.

The Dark Elf Specials

... are not in the game yet. We imagine Mythic wants to put some polish on these savage raider's 'fun'.

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emotesmythic-entertainmentspecialvideowarwarhammer-onlineFri, 22 Aug 2008 18:00:00 -0400319|1292467http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/22/check-out-video-of-warhammer-onlines-special-emotes/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/22/check-out-video-of-warhammer-onlines-special-emotes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/22/check-out-video-of-warhammer-onlines-special-emotes/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#commentsIn most MMOs, avatars have the opportunity to get down with their bad selves. The /dance emote is a perennial favorite emote, begun in the days of online gaming lore and arguably perfected by World of Warcraft's hilarious pop-culture shout-outs. Warhammer Online is a different sort of animal, though. You don't dance during war, damnit! When this was first announced back in March, people were a bit confused. Is Mythic anti-fun?

It turns out they're just anti-dance. Every race in Warhammer Online has at least one wacky antic they can do by typing /special. In fact, typing /dance actually prompts you with the text "[your character] doesn't feel like dancing, they feel like doing /special." Not all of them are in the game yet, and some of them still have to have some kinks worked out, but we have videos of everything in the game as of right now. Click on through below the cut to check out the first (and funniest) of the WAR /specials: The Greenskins!

This is the special used for all three Empire classes: Bright Wizard, Witch Hunter, and Warrior Priest. We imagine eventually that talking hand is going to be covered by a puppet ... maybe? It looks like the character is taking something out of his pocket, but we can't be sure. We hope that additional specials highlight the intrinsic weirdness of some of the Empire classes; if our Bright Wizard /special doesn't set us on fire, I don't know what will!

The Dwarven /special

The Dwarves are a comptemplative lot, apparently. All three classes (the Engineer, the Ironbreaker, and the Rune Priest) currently use this pipe-smoking emote. We're thinking the Engie at least needs something more evocative. Maybe a nice "say hello to my little friend" moment with a handy turret? We're just saying ...

The High Elf /special

Right now the elves are missing their mirror, but you get the idea. We think the White Lion class definitely deserves it's own emote; we'd put money on something awesome like braiding the kitty's hair, or petting the giant man-eating death machine petitely on its head.

Obviously not all of the /special emotes are in the game yet, but they still have some time before launch to get them in. Others aren't finished, but those will take even less effort to to get them finished an into the game world. We hope you've enjoyed this unique look at one of Warhammer's special features!

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emotesmythic-entertainmentspecialvideowarwarhammer-onlineFri, 22 Aug 2008 18:00:00 -0400319|1292486http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/24/g4s-mmo-report-pokes-at-aoc/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Massively&ncid=rss_semi
http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/24/g4s-mmo-report-pokes-at-aoc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/24/g4s-mmo-report-pokes-at-aoc/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Massively#commentsThe deluge of coverage for Age of Conan continues to overwhelm us all, and that's a good thing. Sure, there are the legions of ravening fans who were going to pick this title up no matter what as soon as it became available, but there are a good number of you still on the fence out there. Perhaps sensing this, G4's The MMO Report has gone to the effort of putting together their Age of Conan Special, wherein they interview AoC designer Jason Stone.

On the show Stone talks about how AoC distinguishes itself from its competitors, notably through its combat scheme, the in-development anti-griefing 'Bounty Prison' system, weapon-specific fatalities, and the stacking debuff death penalty. Check out the embedded interview after the jump.

Best exchange of the interview -- Jason: "So you can say whatever you want to me ... and be a complete dick." Casey: "As I would."

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age-of-conanaocbounty-prisong4interviewjason-stonemmo-reportspecialvideoSat, 24 May 2008 16:00:00 -0400319|1204644http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/25/tivos-blue-moon-special-tivo-hd-lifetime-service-for-698/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget&ncid=rss_semi
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Yeah, TiVo's Blue Moon special has been alive for a few weeks now, but for those unaware, we figured it prudent to pass along the deal in case you're interested in grabbing hold. From now until June 16th, interested consumers can snatch up a TiVo HD DVR, TiVo Wireless Adapter, a lifetime of service on the unit and an incredibly amazing TiVo plush doll for $698. Yes, that's less than the original price of the Series3 alone. So there you have it -- at least you've got ample time to think it over before deciding either way.

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dealdealshdlifetimelifetime servicelifetime tivoLifetimeServiceLifetimeTivootherspromopromotionspecialtivotivo hdTivoHdFri, 25 Apr 2008 03:13:00 -040021|1176954http://wow.joystiq.com/2007/08/28/trick-taming-in-shadowmoon-village/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=WoW&ncid=rss_semi
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Pretty funny-- Mania's Arcania issued a challenge to Alliance Hunters a few days ago to do something that might be impossible: tame the Shadowmoon Village stablemaster's pet wolf, Detrafila. The wolf is level 60, and according to Beast Lore, is actually tameable. But he's also surrounded by level 70 Horde, of course, so taming is not easy. Plus, some "pets" of NPCs are actually summoned pets, and therefore not tameable.

But two Hunters were able to pull it off. Dezar on Black Dragonflight and Gettokiwi on Stormreaver were both able to kite the stablemaster away from Shadowmoon Village, take him out, and then tame the wolf after he'd dropped. Unfortunately, as far as I can tell, the wolf doesn't have a special, identifiable look, and he doesn't actually come with any abilities, so there's not much reason to do it except for the experience.

But it would be exceedingly cool for Blizzard to "hide" special tameable pets like this for expert Hunters to go after. I know there are a few other "special" tames around-- Spot in Menethil Harbor is one, as is Stanley, the dog the Horde poisons in Hillsbrad. But it would be cool to see a few more secret, more select tames for Hunters in Northrend. What d'ya say, Blizz?

Azeroth is a beautiful world. From the jungles of Stranglethorn Vale to the bucolic fields of Westfall, from the deserts of Tanaris to the icy peaks of Winterspring, Azeroth is jam-packed with stunning scenery and, just as important, a deep sense of history. But sometimes it's hard to connect the Azeroth of WoW with that of the previous Warcraft lore. Where did Zin'Ashari sink into the sea? Where did Arthas kill his father? Where did Thrall and Grom Hellscream defeat Mannoroth?

That's why Know Your Lore is presenting a special guide to the geography and history of Azeroth. Zone by zone, we'll go through important historical events and landmarks for both the Horde and Alliance. Today we're doing the Eastern Kingdoms, the center of human civilization on Azeroth. Ready? Okay!

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eastern kingdomsEasternKingdomsknow your loreKnowYourLorekylspecialworld of warcraftWorldOfWarcraftFri, 09 Mar 2007 15:00:00 -050099|846447http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/23/pentax-unveils-shiny-lx-gold-slr-to-celebrate-60-years/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget&ncid=rss_semi
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What better to snap oodles of pictures at your Thanksgiving feast than with a gravy-proof (and gold-plated) SLR? Taking a note from the bevy of other Midas-touchedgizmos out there, the Asahi Pentax LX Gold sports a thoroughly blinding paint job with faux-alligator accents to add an extra layer of tacky to an already gaudy device. Apparently aiming to bring back a taste of 1981 (when the 10 millionth Pentax SLR rolled off the production line; pictured after the jump), the company is seemingly reintroducing the vivid shooter to celebrate 60 years of staying afloat. Of course, we aren't sure how many of these splendiferous units will be offered up (or wanted at all), but we're sure it'll rock quite a premium for those somehow interested.

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anniversaryblingcelebrationeditiongoldk10dlimitedlxmidaspentaxshinyspecialThu, 23 Nov 2006 20:51:00 -050021|706747http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/26/fast-and-the-furious-3-tokyo-drift-hd-dvd-combo-reviewed/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget&ncid=rss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/26/fast-and-the-furious-3-tokyo-drift-hd-dvd-combo-reviewed/http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/26/fast-and-the-furious-3-tokyo-drift-hd-dvd-combo-reviewed/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#commentsThe third installment of the Fast & the Furious movie franchise is finally on store shelves in HD DVD format so we can stop posting about it right? Not quite, as it's the first 30GB/9GB HD DVD/DVD combo disc, and includes HDi features at level we haven't seen before. The reviewer at High Def Digest has nothing but praise for the 1080p VC-1 transfer, with all the fast moving cars, CGI and loud colors it manages to keep up without any issues. The soundtrack isn't Dolby TrueHD but it also earns kudos for high quality.. The most interesting aspect of this release is the U-Control interface, surpassing any IME features we've seen so far. The viewer can access extras like director commentary, car information, and insurance damage estimates at any time while the movie continues to play. Some might be worried this is all too complicated, when all they want to do is sit back and watch fast cars, but the review says it's got a very simple learning curve. This could be the start of real next generation home theater experiences...or just another menu to skip during a quick rental of a popcorn flick.

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featureshdhd dvdHdDvdhdihigh definitionHighDefinitionihdimereviewspecialuniversalTue, 26 Sep 2006 16:23:00 -040021|675231http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/constantine-hd-dvd-release-first-for-special-features/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget&ncid=rss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/constantine-hd-dvd-release-first-for-special-features/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/23/constantine-hd-dvd-release-first-for-special-features/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#commentsOther than Keanu Reeves, star of The Matrix and Bill & Ted movies (the Bill & Ted flicks are far better as a series), the HD DVD release of Constantine that we mentioned earlier will also be the first to feature bonus content exclusive to the HD DVD version. Using what they are calling In-movie Experience (IME), you can watch an interview with the director while the film is still playing.

This seems to be the first disc to use any iHD features, it will be interesting to see how well received this is by buyers, not to mention what sort of special features Blu-ray discs will launch with. Until now HD DVD has only offered SD extras copied direct from their DVD cousins, hopefully this marks the end of that era.

Update: VideoBusiness has more information on Universal's release of The Bourne Supremacy, which contains similar interactive features and should be on store shelves near you for $34.98. Batman Begins, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (thanks WiFiSpy) and Dukes of Hazzard are also slated to get the interactive treatment, no release dates yet.